We found typical Istrian site - small setlement at the end of the ridge, The hilly part of Istria is characterized by "refugal" towns and settlements on exposed positions, peaks and final ridges. Buildings of the setlement are small scale houses, arranged to follow the relief of the ridge.
The client wanted a comfortable »classical« country house, where they could spend most of their time. The progam has more than 700 m2 of net surface area.
We were interested in preserving the context of the traditional small Istrian villages so such a large house was for us too big in one volume.
We were searching for typology that enables best experience of the space. Living with the connecion with outdoor space, Mediterranean atmosphere, enjoying garden; this were focus points of our research. Pavilion is associated with the idea of open building in a park often for pleasure and relaxation.
We divided program into three volumes, which are placed consecutively from south to north, and are connected in ground floor. Entrance building is in the center (middle) with large entrance square in front. Due to the shape of terrain you enter in the first floor, where is beside entrance also study and master bedroom. Through double height lobby you move down the round stairs to the ground floor, where is living room and second study. The north building houses guest room in ground floor, in the first floor there are garage and service areas.
To the south is the main building – pavilion. There is kitchen, dining room, large loggia with sundeck and swimming pool in front it. We give special importance to pavilion, since this is where you spent most of the time. Space here is higher and have large openings to the all three sides.
Importance of the pavilion is also emphasized by the shape of the buildings and facade. With flat roof and facade made of local stone which radiates the spirit of Istria, pavilion stands out from other two, anonymous buildings, which have pitched roof and facade made of plaster.
Openings on pavilion are protected from strong summer sun with sliding wooden panels which can be regulated, referring to classic wooden blinds on houses.
Three buildings are placed in an irregular composition one after the other, they follow relief of ridge and the shape of the terrain. They create different spaces, connections, referring to typical Istrian towns. In this way, we tried to preserve the traditional silhouette of the settlement.
Landscape design creates different ambiences. The entrance gravel square is surrounded on one side by Stone pine trees, which form the street facade. In front of the pavilion there is a large sunny platform with a swimming pool, in front of the middle house there is a small park with pine trees, in front of the guest house there is a larger deep garden with a Lebanese cedar in the middle, behind the house there is a small bosco. All selected vegetation is Mediterranean, mostly fragrant plants, which add a sensory layer to the experience and upgrade the abstraction of architecture.
